Storage systems and methods

ABSTRACT

A storage system is described where goods are stored in containers and the containers are stored in stacks. Above the stacks runs a grid network of tracks on which load handling devices run. The load handling devices take containers from the stacks and deposit then at alternative locations in the stacks or deposit then at stations where goods may be picked out. The containers may be provided with one or more of the following services: power, power control, heating, lighting, cooling, sensing, and data logging. The provision of these services within individual containers rather than across the system as a whole, allows for flexibility in storage whilst reducing cost and inefficiency.

The present invention relates to storage systems. More specifically butnot exclusively, it relates to storage systems having storage bins orcontainers in stacks.

This application claims priority from UK Patent Application Nos.GB1506365.4 filed 15 Apr. 2015, GB1514428.0 filed 13 Aug. 2015,GB1518089.6 filed 13 Oct. 2015, GB1602332.7 filed 9 Feb. 2016,GB1518091.2 filed 13 Oct. 2015, GB1518094.6 filed 13 Oct. 2015,GB1518111.8 filed 13 Oct. 2015, GB1518115.9 filed 13 Oct. 2015,GB1518117.5 filed 13 Oct. 2015 and GB1603328.4 filed 25 Feb. 2016 thecontent of all these applications hereby being incorporated byreference.

Some commercial and industrial activities require systems that enablethe storage and retrieval of a large number of different products. Oneknown type of system for the storage and retrieval of items in multipleproduct lines involves arranging storage containers or containers instacks on top of one another, the stacks being arranged in rows. Thestorage containers or containers are accessed from above, removing theneed for aisles between rows and allowing more containers to be storedin a given space.

In known storage and retrieval systems described more fully below, thecontainers are passive and exist simply to hold the goods. Whilst theidentity of a given container may be known and linked to its contents bybarcoding for example, the containers in the system have no activecomponents or on board intelligence.

In shipping container systems, the containers comprise monitoring andcontrolling systems to, for example, containers that chill the contents,containers that comprise gas monitoring systems, for example, to monitorfor fruit ripening and containers that comprise locating means to enableindividual containers to be tracked and traced in port.

Methods of handling containers stacked in rows have been well known fordecades. In some such systems, for example as described in U.S. Pat. No.2,701,065, to Bertel comprise freestanding stacks of containers arrangedin rows in order to reduce the storage volume associated with storingsuch containers but yet still providing access to a specific containerif required. Access to a given container is made possible by providingrelatively complicated hoisting mechanisms which can be used to stackand remove given containers from stacks. The cost of such systems are,however, impractical in many situations and they have mainly beencommercialised for the storage and handling of large shippingcontainers.

The concept of using freestanding stacks of containers and providing amechanism to retrieve and store specific containers has been developedfurther, for example as described in EP 0 767 113 B to Cimcorp. '113discloses a mechanism for removing a plurality of stacked containers,using a robotic load handler in the form of a rectangular tube which islowered around the stack of containers, and which is configured to beable to grip a container at any level in the stack. In this way, severalcontainers can be lifted at once from a stack. The movable tube can beused to move several containers from the top of one stack to the top ofanother stack, or to move containers from a stack to an externallocation and vice versa. Such systems can be particularly useful whereall of the containers in a single stack contain the same product (knownas a single-product stack).

In the system described in '113, the height of the tube has to be asleast as high as the height of the largest stack of containers, so thatthat the highest stack of containers can be extracted in a singleoperation. Accordingly, when used in an enclosed space such as awarehouse, the maximum height of the stacks is restricted by the need toaccommodate the tube of the load handler.

EP 1037828 B1 (Autostore) the contents of which are incorporated hereinby reference, describes a system in which stacks of containers arearranged within a frame structure. A system of this type is illustratedschematically in FIGS. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings. Robotic loadhandling devices can be controllably moved around the stack on a systemof tracks on the upper most surface of the stack.

Other forms of robotic load handling device are further described in,for example, Norwegian patent number 317366, the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference. FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are schematicperspective views of a load handling device from the rear and front,respectively, and FIG. 3(c) is a schematic front perspective view of aload handling device lifting a bin.

A further development of load handling device is described in UK PatentApplication No 1314313.6 (Ocado) where each robotic load handler onlycovers one grid space, thus allowing higher density of load handlers andthus higher throughput of a given size system.

In such known storage systems a large number of containers are stackeddensely. The contents of the containers may degrade, may requirelighting, heating or cooling, or may need some form of monitoring orcontrol not currently provided by known systems.

According to the invention there is provided a storage systemcomprising: a first set of parallel rails or tracks and a second set ofparallel rails or tracks extending transverse to the first set in asubstantially horizontal plane to form a grid pattern comprising aplurality of grid spaces; a plurality of storage containers 10 arrangedin stacks, located beneath the rails and; at least one load handlingdevice disposed on the grid, arranged to move laterally above the stackson the rails, the load handling device comprising a lifting devicearranged to lift one or more containers, or parts thereof, from a stack;wherein a number of the containers comprise service means for providingservices to the or each container thereby enabling individual containerswithin the stacks to perform additional functions.

According to the invention there is further provided a method ofcondition monitoring a storage system comprising the steps of: providingsensor means and data logging and storage means within a storagecontainer; providing communication means to communicate data logged to acentral data logging device; positioning the container within a storagesystem to be monitored; and monitoring the data received.

Advantageously, in accordance with one form of the invention, individualcontainers within the storage system may be provided with services inaddition to goods. Furthermore, individual containers within the storagesystem may not contain goods but may contain services for provision toother containers or to monitor or control the condition of the system.

In this way, depending on the services provided in individualcontainers, the contents may be controlled or monitored for datarelating to the contents of the bin to be relayed to a centralprocessing system. Furthermore, services and conditions within thecontainers or containers may be controlled, for example temperature,moisture, lighting or other parameters. Control functions may beprovided either by a local control system in the bin or by a centralsystem sending signals to actuators in the containers. Moreover, controland monitoring may be achieved for peer to peer communication viawireless or other means, between non-adjacent containers. The datatransmitted may provide information on the condition of the bin, thecontents of the bin or may provide information on adjacent containers tocondition monitor the entire storage system. Furthermore, in this way,the containers may be heated or cooled as required by the specificcontents of the bin.

In this way, the present invention overcomes the problems of the priorart and provides a system and method of increasing the reliability andreducing the overall cost of large bin handling storage systems.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanyingdiagrammatic drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a frame structure for housinga plurality of stacks of containers in a storage system;

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of part of the frame structure of FIG.1;

FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are schematic perspective views, from the rear andfront respectively, of one form of robotic load handling device for usewith the frame structure of FIGS. 1 and 2, and FIG. 3(c) is a schematicperspective view of the known load handler device in use lifting a bin;

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a known storage systemcomprising a plurality of load handler devices of the type shown inFIGS. 3(a), 3(b) and 3(c), installed on the frame structure of FIGS. 1and 2, together with a robotic service device in accordance with oneform of the invention.

FIGS. 5a and 5b are schematic perspective views of one form of containerin accordance with the invention, FIG. 5a showing a view of one side andFIG. 5b showing the opposite side view of the same container, thecontainer comprising services and utilities connected via connectionmeans, the connection means being supplied via routing means located onat least one side of the container;

FIGS. 6a and 6b are schematic perspective views of another form ofcontainer in accordance the invention, the container comprising lightingmeans and fluid supply means;

FIG. 7a shows an expanded view of the connector means on the containerof FIG. 5 a;

FIG. 7b shows an expanded view of the routing means on the container ofFIG. 5 b;

FIGS. 8a, 8b and 8c are schematic perspective views of a container inaccordance with a further form of the invention, the containercomprising lighting means in the container or a part thereof;

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of a stack of the containers ofFIGS. 6a and 6b showing the connectors on the containers cooperatingwhen the containers are stacked in a stack;

FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of the stack of containers ofFIG. 9 in accordance with another form of the invention, the containersbeing located within a framework of one form of a storage and retrievalsystem, the connectors further connecting to supply means located in thebase of the storage and retrieval system;

FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of the connections between thebase of the storage and retrieval system and the bottom container withina stack;

FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view of a container in accordancewith a further form of the invention, the container comprising fluidsupply means and further comprising a fluid reservoir; and

FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view of a further embodiment of theinvention in which a container comprises a plurality of smallercontainers, each of the smaller containers comprising a given serviceconnectable via the connection means located on at least one side of thecontainer.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, stackable containers, known as bins 10, arestacked on top of one another to form stacks 12. The stacks 12 arearranged in a frame structure 14 in a warehousing or manufacturingenvironment. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the framestructure 14, and FIG. 2 is a top-down view showing a single stack 12 ofbins 10 arranged within the frame structure 14. Each bin 10 typicallyholds a plurality of product items (not shown), and the product itemswithin a bin 10 may be identical, or may be of different product typesdepending on the application.

The frame structure 14 comprises a plurality of upright members 16 thatsupport substantially horizontal members 18, 20. A first set ofsubstantially parallel substantially horizontal members 18 is arrangedperpendicularly to a second set of substantially parallel substantiallyhorizontal members 20 to form a plurality of horizontal grid structuressupported by the upright members 16. The members 16, 18, 20 aretypically manufactured from metal. The bins 10 are stacked between themembers 16, 18, 20 of the frame structure 14, so that the framestructure 14 guards against horizontal movement of the stacks 12 of bins10, and guides vertical movement of the bins 10.

The top level of the frame structure 14 includes rails 22 arranged in agrid pattern across the top of the stacks 12. Referring additionally toFIGS. 3 and 4, the rails 22 support a plurality of robotic load handlingdevices 30. A first set 22 a of parallel rails 22 guide movement of theload handling devices 30 in a first direction (X) across the top of theframe structure 14, and a second set 22 b of parallel rails 22, arrangedperpendicular to the first set 22 a, guide movement of the load handlingdevices 30 in a second direction (Y), perpendicular to the firstdirection. In this way, the rails 22 allow movement of the load handlingdevices 30 in two dimensions in the X-Y plane, so that a load handlingdevice 30 can be moved into position above any of the stacks 12.

Each load handling device 30 comprises a vehicle 32 which is arranged totravel in the X and Y directions on the rails 22 of the frame structure14, above the stacks 12. A first set of wheels 34, consisting of a pairof wheels 34 on the front of the vehicle 32 and a pair of wheels 34 onthe back of the vehicle 32, are arranged to engage with two adjacentrails of the first set 22 a of rails 22. Similarly, a second set ofwheels 36, consisting of a pair of wheels 36 on each side of the vehicle32, are arranged to engage with two adjacent rails of the second set 22b of rails 22. Each set of wheels 34, 36 can be lifted and lowered, sothat either the first set of wheels 34 or the second set of wheels 36 isengaged with the respective set of rails 22 a, 22 b at any one time.

When the first set of wheels 34 is engaged with the first set of rails22 a and the second set of wheels 36 are lifted clear from the rails 22,the wheels 34 can be driven, by way of a drive mechanism (not shown)housed in the vehicle 32, to move the load handling device 30 in the Xdirection. To move the load handling device 30 in the Y direction, thefirst set of wheels 34 are lifted clear of the rails 22, and the secondset of wheels 36 are lowered into engagement with the second set ofrails 22 a. The drive mechanism can then be used to drive the second setof wheels 36 to achieve movement in the Y direction.

In this way, one or more robotic load handling devices 30 can movearound the top surface of the stacks 12 on the frame structure 14 underthe control of a central picking system (not shown). Each robotic loadhandling device 30 is provided with means for lifting out one or morebins or containers from the stack 12 to access the required products. Inthis way, multiple products can be accessed from multiple locations inthe grid and stacks at any one time.

It will be appreciated that if the required container 10 is not at thetop of the stack 12, if each load handling device can only carry asingle container 10 then multiple load handling devices will need toco-operate in order to access the target container 10.

FIG. 4 shows a typical storage system as described above, the systemhaving a plurality of load handling devices 30 active on the stacks 12in order to co-operate to retrieve and replace containers 10 from and tothe stacks 12. Unwanted containers 10 removed from stacks 12 in thepursuit of a target container 10 are placed back in to the stacks 12 atvacant positions.

FIGS. 1 and 4 show the bins 10 in stacks 12 within the storage system.It will be appreciated that there may be a large number of bins in anygiven storage system and that many different goods may be stored in thestacks, each bin may contain different goods within a single stack 12 orsimilar goods in similar stacks or multiple inventory items in anindividual container 10. Whilst the above described system was conceivedto store and retrieve groceries in an online shopping e-commercesolution, it will be appreciated that other uses are envisaged and thatother items such as parcels and letters may be stored in the containers10.

FIGS. 5a and 5b show a container 10 in accordance with one form of theinvention, the container 10 capable of being held in stacks byco-operating surfaces forming interference fits between adjacentcontainers 10. The container 10 of FIGS. 5a and 5b , additionallycomprises connection means 40 at the co-operating surface wherecontainers will cooperate in order to form a stack 12 of containers 10.The connection means 40 shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b comprises a push fitmale connector 40 located at the top edge of the container 10. Thebottom edge of the container comprises a female connector. The twocontainers are linked by routing means that may form part of thecontainer 10 as mouldings or may be pipes, cables, wires or otherrouting means mounted on the surface of the side of the container 10. Itwill be appreciated that this form of connector means and routing meansis one form only of connector and routing means that may be used, anysuitable form of releasable connector means capable of latching orconnecting and unlatching or disconnecting as required on movement ofthe container in or out of the stack 12.

For example, the connection means 40 may comprise electricallyconductive layers deposited on the co-operating surfaces of thecontainers 10 or may comprise sprung-loaded contacts or springs ascontacts or any other connection means capable of carrying power, dataor other signals between two or more containers 10. Non-contactingmethods of power transmission may also be used, for example magneticinduction or RF induction and optical methods. Furthermore, theconnection means 40 may comprise carbon loaded rubber contacts capableof carrying signals or data between two or more co-operating containers10 in a stack.

Whilst the containers may be held in stacks 12 by interference means orby adjacent containers 10 having shaped, co-operating surfaces,containers 10 may be latched together via suitable latching means (notshown). The latching means may act to releasably latch two or morecontainers 10 together in the stack 12. The latching means must beCapable of remote operation in order that the load handling means maylift individual containers 10 or a plurality of containers 10 latchedtogether. Any form of remotely latching and unlatching means may beused. For example electromagnetic latching means or any other meanssuitable to perform the function.

FIGS. 5a and 5b further show an individual bin 10 comprising powersupply means 42 for supplying power to, for example, heating means 56,cooling means 58, data logging means 44, communication means 46 and/orlighting means 60 in FIGS. 6a and 6b . The bin 10 further comprisespower control means 43 for controlling the power to the or each serviceand controlling the power to other containers 10 in the stack 12, ifpower is to be transmitted to adjacent containers 10 in the stack 12. Itwill be appreciated that containers 10 comprising power control andcontrol means may power heaters 56, coolers 58, lights 60 or any otherservice requiring power. Anything requiring power may utilise the powersupply means 42. The power supply means may comprise batteries or maycomprise means for transmitting power from an external power sourcethrough connection means 52 on the containers 10 from the base of thestorage system or via the uprights 16 of the grid.

Furthermore, power, data or any other signals may be supplied to thecontainers 10 in the stacks 12 via power and or data connectors locatedin the floor of the warehouse. Power may be transmitted up the stacks 12via the contacts 52 in the co-operating surfaces of the containers 10.Moreover, services may flow up stacks 12 of containers 10 from thefloor, for example cooling or heating fluids may be utilised in thismanner.

FIGS. 5a and 5b further show an individual bin 10 comprising at leastdata logging means 44 and communication means 46 for transmitting datarecorded to a remote central data logging device. The data logging means44 comprises sensors suitable for monitoring the conditions in the bin10, for example the temperature, any gas emission, for example as aresult of decomposing fruit, and humidity. The data logging means 44 andcommunicating means 46 enable the content and condition of individualcontainers 10 to be monitored.

Furthermore, knowing information about specific containers 10 in thestacks 12 in the system enables the condition of the storage system as awhole to be monitored. Whilst the containers 10 per se may be anonymous,a unique identity may be assigned to each bin 10 in the storage system.In this way, the location of each bin 10 (and its contents) may betrackable and identifiable by the system via the communications means.In this way, the topology of the containers 10 can be constructed as aresult of each container 10 having knowledge of the identity of theimmediately adjacent containers 10 and the bottom container 10 in anystack having knowledge that there are no containers 10 below.

It will be appreciated that any type and method of communication may beused, for example WiFi, Bluetooth, 3-wire serial, SigFox or otherproprietary systems such as that described in UK Patent Application No.GB1509793.4 to Ocado Innovation Limited, the contents of which in herebyincorporated by reference. It will be appreciated that any othersuitable communications means or protocol may be used.

FIGS. 5a and 5b further show an individual bin 10 from the stack 12, thebin 10 comprising heating 56 and/or cooling means 58 and temperaturemonitoring means 50 for monitoring the temperature in the bin 10. Theheating means 56 may comprise flow of hot fluid via direct means, forexample hot air, or indirect means, for example radiator means or mayfurther comprise electrical heaters or electromagnetic inductionheaters.

The cooling means 58 may comprise Peltier coolers or may comprise flowof cold fluid via direct means, for example cold air or via indirectmeans, for example radiator means, including ice slurry compressordriven.

In these ways, the temperatures of individual containers 10 may bemonitored, controlled and varied depending on the content of theindividual bin 10. If the contents of the bin need to be chilled orfrozen, then the individual bin can have a temperature of 5 degrees C.maintained, for chilled, and lower for frozen, rather than requiring aportion of the stacks 12 in the storage system to be maintained at apredetermined temperature by space heaters and coolers.

It will be appreciated that these are examples only and any suitableform of heater or chiller may be used to achieve the desired effect. Thecontainers 10 may be designed and arranged such that each bin 10 issealed, for example in an airtight fashion, by the bin 10 located above.The top bin 10 in each stack 12 may be provided with a lid, not shown,to seal the top bin 10. Sealing the containers 10 in this fashionenables the temperature within an individual bin to be more easilycontrolled by suitable heating or cooling means.

FIGS. 6a and 6b show an alternative form of the container 10 comprisinglighting means 60 and fluid supply means 72. The same connectors 40 and17 may be used to route power to the lighting means 60 or water, forexample to the fluid supply means 72.

FIGS. 7a and 7b show and expanded view of the male connector 40 and thefemale connector 17 located on or in the side of the container 10. FIGS.7a and 7b show one example only of the connection means that may formthe connections between adjacent containers 10 in a stack 12 ofcontainers 10 in detail.

FIG. 8 shows three examples of an individual bin 10 from the stack 12,the bin 10 comprising lighting means. The lighting means 60 may beprovided in the base of a bin to light the bin 10 below. Alternativelythe lighting means 60 may comprise a lid 62 containing suitable bulbs,LEDs or any other suitable form of lighting. The lid 62 may beremoveably attached to the bin 10 and fold away during removal of thebin 10 from the stack 12. Again the power supply to the lighting means60 is supplied via the connector means 40 and 17 located on thecontainer 10.

FIG. 9 shows a stack of containers 10 shown in FIG. 8. The containers 10comprise fluid supply means and lighting means 60. The connectors 40 and17 cooperate together to connect each container 10 the containerimmediately above and below. In this way, services such as power, topower the lighting means 60 or water to irrigate the contents of anindividual container 10 may be routed through the containers in thestacks 12.

FIG. 10 shows a portion of the framework of the storage systemcomprising a plurality of containers located therein, the containers 10carrying services upwardly through the system by wires, cables or pipesor any other suitable means 17. As can be seen in more detail in FIG.10, the bottom container 10 in the stack 12 connects to supply meansrouted through the base of the storage system via connectors 72. It willbe appreciated that the supply means in the base may be located in afalse base 76 of the system as shown in FIG. 10 but may otherwise berouted under the floor of the building comprising the storage system ormay be routed via other means.

FIG. 11 shows the connection means between a stack 12 of containers andthe supply means in the base 76 of the system in more detail. It will beappreciated that this is one example only of a suitable connection meansand that any connector system of releasably connecting containers 10 toa power, electrical, lighting, telecommunications or other supply may beenvisaged.

FIG. 12 shows yet another form of individual container 10 in accordancewith the invention from a stack 12, the bin 10 comprising fluid supplymeans 72 and further comprising a fluid reservoir 74. The contents ofthe bin 10 may require water to be supplied thereto. Accordingly, thebin 10 is provided with a reservoir 54 that may be filled with a liquidor gas. In order to fill the reservoir 74, the bin 10 may be removedfrom the stack 12 by the robotic load handling device and taken to alocation in the system where the reservoir can be topped up as required.Alternatively, the required fluids may be routed to specific containers10 via the uprights 16 of the grid system.

FIG. 13 shows a further embodiment of the invention in which a container100 comprises a plurality of smaller containers 110, each of the smallercontainers 110 comprising a given service connectable via the connectionmeans 17, 40 located on at least one side of the container.

In use, the storage system described above with reference to theFigures, comprises a large number of containers 10 arranged in stacks12. In one embodiment of the invention, the storage system comprisescontainers 10 of different categories dispersed within the system. Forexample, there may be empty containers 10, containers 10 containinggoods to be stored, containers containing services such as powersupplies or communications means, containers 10 capable of heating,containers 10 capable of cooling, containers 10 comprising goodsrequiring liquids and/or light. It will be appreciated that some or allof the containers 10 may contain one or more of the services or devicesreferred to above. For example a bin 10 with a reservoir 54 may also beprovided with lighting means 60.

The provision of data logging and condition monitoring means incontainers 10 within the stacks 12 enables a map of the condition andtopography of the system to be generated that would not otherwise bepossible unless specific containers 10 were removed and examined.Furthermore, inclusion of camera means within a number of containers 10allows for containers to be moved around the system to inspect thecondition of the grid and or other containers or containers 10.

Furthermore, providing services to specific individual containers 10either via the uprights 16 or via bin-to-bin contacts, enables goodshaving different requirements to be stored within the same storagesystem without resorting to portioning the system and separating goodswith different requirements in to separate sections of the grid.

Additionally, connections between containers 10 and communicationsbetween containers 10 and stacks 12 generates a knowledge base of thestorage system in real time that will assist in the event of a poweroutage for example, that will aid in possible disaster recovery. Thealternative would be to empty all the containers and rebuild the stackwhich would be inefficient and costly.

The system described above has many varied uses. The foregoingdescription provides details of specific controlling and monitoringservices that may be used in some of the following circumstances. Somenon-limiting examples, in accordance with aspects of the invention, ofapplications for smart bin or container 10 systems may include, but arenot limited to the following:

A container 10 comprising temperature sensing means may be used tomonitor the temperature in chilled, frozen or ambient sections of thestorage system. For example, an increase in the temperature in anambient portion of the system could result in chocolate melting orignitables igniting. This may be a particular problem in the summermonths in warmer climates.

A container 10 comprising camera means maybe used to monitor thecondition of the grid and other containers 10 in the stacks 12. Therobotic load handling devices 30 may be used to move the containers 10around the storage system to inspect portions of the system or othercontainers 10 or stacks 12 as required. This may be relevant if therehave been spillages in the system or other issues with the integrity ofthe system, grid or containers.

A container 10 identification means within each individual container 10together with communications means between containers 10 or stacks 12may be used to create a topological profile of the storage system, wherepeer-to-peer identity is possible. In the event of a catastrophicfailure of the systems controlling the stacks, the topologicalinformation may be used to create a disaster recovery situation.

Individual containers 10 may be provided with lighting means 60, for usein conjunction with monitoring and camera means in order to assist ininspection of individual containers 10 or the system as a whole.Furthermore, contents of the containers 10 may benefit from lighting ofspecific wavelengths or a range of wavelengths. For example, under ripefruit may be brought on using appropriate lighting. Additionally, it maybe possible to use containers or containers 10 for cultivation purposes.

The storage containers and containers 10 may be provided with sensors todetect gas, smoke, fire or heat, the sensors activating sprinklersystems to put out any fire.

Should the storage system be used, for example, to store cars in amechanised car park, as described in UK patent application numberGB1514428.0, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference,sensors detecting fire or smoke may activate sprinklers andcommunication means may be provided to directly communicate with acentral monitoring system or directly to the emergency services.

A container 10 comprising gas sensing means may be used to monitor thecondition of fruit in a chilled portion of the system. Ripening fruitgive off gases so monitoring for these specific gases may provide anindication of over ripening fruit in storage. Should this be detected,containers 10, having cooling means within the bin may be cooled toprevent over ripening of the contents.

Should the containers or containers 10 be used for storing alternativegoods such as parcels, the containers or containers 10 may containweighing means such as scales to monitor the weight of parcels instorage before onward distribution.

In a second embodiment of the invention, the containers 10 compriseintelligence means such as routers, calculators or servers (not shown).The intelligence means may communicate via peer to peer communicationsacross the containers 10 in the system. Furthermore, the communicationsmay occur via contactless light through air communications, however anyother suitable means for communication may be used.

The intelligence means may be powered and controlled by suitable powersupply means and power control means such as those means describedabove.

Utilising the proximity of the containers 10 provides a system havingrelatively short communication distances between the intelligence meanslocated in the containers 10. The relatively short distances reducelatency between the intelligence means, the system being capable of fastand powerful operation.

Such a system may require extensive cooling. Such cooling means may beprovided as described above or via cooling means being passed up theuprights 16 of the framework 14 from the base of the system.

In use, each calculator or server may be connected with at least its sixneighbours via optical channels. For example, using slightly transparentmirrors, each calculator could transmit or receive into this channelwithout disturbing any other traffic, for example, using wavelengthdivision multiplexing. In this way, each node could have a speed oflight, exactly defined latency, connection to every other node in thesystem.

For example, the communications means may comprise laser basedtransmission through air. However, other communication means may beprovided, for example connection of the servers or calculators by fibreoptic tentacles extending to make contact with neighbours.

For example for 100,000 containers 10, each comprising powerfulintelligence means, may be combined in to a machine in a stack 60×60 and28 tall in a 14 k sq ft space. Or 1 million containers in a 200×160grid, 33 tall in a 125 k sq ft building.

It will be appreciated that there are numerous applications that maybenefit from this instantaneous and defined node to node connectivity.For example, flow simulations and the like for aircraft design, weatherforecasting or climate models, financial trading calculations, proteinsynthesis calculation and simulations of chemical reactions with wholeorganisms may advantageously benefit from such large, densely packedintelligence means. However, it will be appreciated that these examplesare given for example only and are not limiting.

It will further be appreciated that individual containers may beprovided with one service, a selection of services or all servicesdescribed. Furthermore, the services listed should not be regarded aslimiting. Any form of service that is capable of being carried ortransmitted to a bin 10 may be envisaged.

Furthermore, although the embodiments of the invention described above,and shown in the Figures, detail systems in which the containers 10 areall of a substantially identical size and shape, it will be appreciatedthat this need not be the case. As described in UK Patent ApplicationNo. GB1506364.7 filed 15 Apr. 2015, incorporated herein by reference, itwill be appreciated that such a system may be configured to handlecontainers 10 of multiple sizes by use of load handling devices 30 ofdiffering sizes capable of lifting and moving containers 10 of multiplesizes.

Moreover, the embodiments described above and detailed in theaccompanying figures assume that the storage system comprises containers10 in stacks 12 disposed within a framework 14 in an unfettered manner.It will be appreciated that the system may be partitioned by suitablepartitioning means into smaller sub sections defined by, for exampletemperature. In this way it would be possible to have an ambientportion, a chilled portion and a frozen portion for example. It willalso be appreciated that the partitioning may have additionaladvantages, for example, partitioning enables sections of the storagesystem to be isolated from other sections. This may be necessary ifthere is a fire, for example, and fire suppressant means are used in agiven area to extinguish the fire. Furthermore, in the case where thesystem is used for alternative uses, there may be advantages in havingdifferent gaseous atmospheres in different portions of the system. Thismay be achieved by partitioning the system. It will be appreciated thatthe partitioning means may be temporary and remotely deployable, forexample roller shutters disposed under the grid.

Many variations and modifications not explicitly described above arealso possible without departing from the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

1. A storage system comprising: a first set of parallel rails or tracksand a second set of parallel rails or tracks extending transverse to thefirst set in a substantially horizontal plane to form a grid patternhaving a plurality of grid spaces; and a plurality of storage containersarranged in stacks, located beneath the rails and; at least one loadhandling device disposed on the grid, arranged to move laterally abovethe stacks on the rails, the load handling device having a liftingdevice arranged to lift one or more containers, or parts thereof, from astack; wherein a number of the containers include service means forproviding services to the or each container, thereby enabling individualcontainers within the stacks to perform additional functions.
 2. Astorage system according to claim 1, wherein the lifting devicecomprises: means for lifting a lid from a container, a container, or aplurality of containers.
 3. A storage system according to claim 1,wherein a proportion of the containers comprise: power supply means. 4.A storage system according to claim 1, wherein some or all of thecontainers comprise; power control means.
 5. A storage system accordingto claim 1, wherein some or all of the containers comprise: sensor meansand data logging means for monitoring an output of the sensor means. 6.A storage system according to claim 1, wherein some or all thecontainers comprise: communication means for communicating with adjacentcontainers or with a central communications manager.
 7. A storage systemaccording to claim 1, wherein some or all of the containers comprise:heating means for heating and controlling the temperature of contents ofthe containers.
 8. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein someor all of the containers comprise: cooling means for cooling andcontrolling temperature of contents of the containers.
 9. A storagesystem according to claim 1, wherein some or all of the containerscomprise: a reservoir, the reservoir acting as a fluid sink in arespective container.
 10. A storage system according to claim 1, whereinsome or all of the containers comprise: lighting means.
 11. A storagesystem according to claim 10, wherein the lighting means comprises a lidremoveably attached to the or each container in a stack.
 12. A storagesystem according to claim 1, wherein an individual container in a stackis provided with a unique identity, the identity being traceable andtrackable by suitable sensor and monitoring means.
 13. A storage systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the containers comprise: intelligencemeans such that topology of the containers can be constructed as aresult of each container having knowledge of an identity of immediatelyadjacent containers and a bottom container in any stack having knowledgethat there are no containers below.
 14. A storage system according toclaim 1, wherein the containers comprise: communications means arrangedto allow for peer to peer communications between containers within thesystem.
 15. A system according to claim 1, wherein the containerscomprise: calculating means, the calculating means being configured forcommunications between containers such that data intensive calculationsmay be conducted under control of control means located externally tothe system.
 16. A system according to claim 1, in combination with asupercomputer comprising: a plurality of separate calculating means,each of the calculating means being located in a container of thestorage system, the calculating means being provided with communicatingmeans to allow communication between separate calculating means therebyenabling data intensive calculations to be carried out under control ofa central utility.
 17. A system and supercomputer according to claim 16,in which the communication means for communication between thecalculating means comprises: wireless communications means.
 18. A methodof condition monitoring a storage system having first and second sets ofparallel rails, and a plurality of storage containers arranged in stacksbeneath the rails, the method comprising: a. providing sensor means anddata logging means within at least one storage container; b. providingcommunication means to communicate data logged from the storage systemto a central data logging device; c. positioning each container withinthe storage system to be monitored; and d. monitoring the data received.19. A method of operating a storage system for cooled goods according toclaim 18, comprising: a. providing means for controlling temperaturewithin a select container; b. providing means for monitoring temperaturewithin the select container; and c. providing the select container withcooling means such that the select container is cooled independently ofthe storage system.